Subject: Ashes 2009

Seems like Onions has got a bad elbow, so it'll be Harmy in for him, I reckon, which is disappointing for me on a number of levels.

With the news that KP has had surgery and is out for 6 weeks, Bell should come in for him. A quick rejig of the batting order and I reckon we'll have:

Strauss
Cook
Bell
Colly
Bopara
Prior
Freddie
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Harmison

That seems reasonable, I really think Harmy will do well, plus will be more affective than Onions who was not really used as a bowler....especially in the 2nd innings. Just 9 overs is really no return is it?

Harmison got 6 for recently - his best figures in County Cricket.

I really think that Robert Key should have been considered after 270 not out recently. Hes also played well against the Aussies in the past.

mark ramprakash anybody? consistantly scoring 100+ all of the time.

Not for me, way too old now and always failed at test level unfortunately. Bit of an enigma like Hick.

Rob Key has been in pants form all season until a couple of big scores, recently. Got to be Bell to come in. He was in the England set up, and dropped and told to go away and score some runs at county level. I believe he averages 70 ish at county level, so he's done as he's told. To jump over him to get to Key would seem a little harsh.

You have a fair point there, I was just throwing up another name in case we need another batsmen come the end of the Ashes.

The cupboard's pretty bare, unfortunately. Bell's teammate Trott seems to be in good form. It'd be a brave choice though.

That would be a brave choice imo, you are right though hes scored a fair few runs from what I have seen.

God knows who will take Flintoff's place in the team?

bopara can bowl. quite well.

Not sure hes test level, and nothing like Flintoff either.

oh well, you only need 4 bowlers and maybe 1 or 2 part timers like collingwood and bopara anyways.

You'd need 4 quality bowlers if you don't have a 5 man attack, thats why Aus have struggled to bowl us out imo. 4 bowlers can get tired fairly quickly.

thats why the part timers are needed, a good bowler should bowl 16-20 overs a day easy!

Oh dear.

It was something like 40-4 last time i looked. Has it got worse on what was apparently a swingless wicket in the morning?